Page 53 of Things Good Girls Don't Do

“I’ll be right there,” Katie said.

Yeah, I’ll be there, once I get my raging hormones under control.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the supply closet with a few bottles of gel. She saw Gemma Carlson standing by the reception desk and smiled at her.

Unfortunately, Jimmy was also there, looking sheepish, and her smile disappeared.

What in the name of all that is holy is he doing here?

“Hey Gemma, why don’t you head on over to my chair and I’ll be there in a bit,” Katie said.

Gemma patted her arm as she passed. “Thanks for fitting me in. If you need me to pull the hurry-up-I-got-to-pick-up-my-kid card, I’m on it.”

Katie laughed. “I think I can handle him, but I appreciate it.”

“Well, it’s none of my business, but you just let me know,” Gemma said.

“What can I do for you, Jimmy?” Katie said, moving to stand in front of him.

“Can we talk outside? There’s something I want to say, but not here,” he said.

Katie hesitated, not wanting to cause a scene. “I’ve got a client waiting.”

“Please, it’ll just take a second,” he said.

New Katie wanted to tell him to go to hell, but Old Katie, the one who gave people the benefit of the doubt, said, “Okay, let’s go out front.”

He held the door open for her and followed her to the simple wooden bench in front of the shop window. Katie sat down and asked, “So what did you want to tell me?”

Jimmy sat next to her and reached out for her hands. She jerked them back and glared. “What are you doing? You said you wanted to talk!”

His brown eyes darkened and his mouth twisted into an ugly frown. “I was just trying to apologize again. For the other day and for ... well, for before.”

Okay, New Katie was about to rear her angry head. “Before what, Jimmy? Before you wasted seven years of my life? Before you dumped me after cheating on me for God knows how long? Or was it before you sent me your wedding invitation? Tell me, whichbeforeare you talking about?”

“Damn it, why do you have to make this so hard?” he said.

She stood up and snapped, “I’m sorry, was I supposed to make this easy for you? What you did was reprehensible and unforgivable. You showed absolutely no remorse for the way you treated me before, so I have to wonder why you’re here now. The apology is just a little too late.”

“Please, Katie, don’t go. I just want to talk,” he said.

“You talked, I listened. Now, I have a client who has to pick up her kid, so if you’ll excuse me.” She turned away from him to walk back inside.

“What’s going on with you and that pretty boy?” Jimmy asked.

Facing him, she couldn’t believe his gall. “Are you serious? You came here to ask about my personal life?”

“That guy isn’t right for you. You’re too good for him,” he said.

Of all of the ridiculous, absurd ... “You’re an idiot.”

“He has earrings like a chick, for fuck’s sake,” Jimmy shouted.

“Well, I think his earrings are sexy! So why don’t you get the hell out of here, go back to your perky little fiancée, and keep your opinions about my love life to yourself?”

“Come on, Katie-bear ...” he pleaded.

“Do not call me that. Like I said before, you are nothing to me now, Jimmy. Just a walking, talking reminder of some really bad decisions.” She reached out to grab the door and threw it open, stomping into the salon, and avoiding the wide, curious eyes following her as she walked to her stylist chair.

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